Thread by @ZhugeEX

I don't normally do threads like this but I did want to provide some deeper thoughts on the below and why having a video game based on a real world war crime from the same people that received CIA funding isn't the best idea.

This will go pretty in depth FYI.

https://twitter.com/ZhugeEX/status/1359882844571643907

The core reason why I'm doing this thread is because:

1. It's clear the developers are marketing the game a certain way.

2. This is based on something that actually happened, a war crime no less. I don't have issues with shooter games in general ofc.

Firstly, It's important to acknowledge that the Iraq war was an illegal war, based on lies, a desire for regime change and control of resources in the region.

These were lies that people believed and still believe to this day.

independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

It's also important to mention that the action taken by these aggressors is the reason there was a battle in Fallujah in the first place. People became resistance fighters because they were left with nothing but death and destruction all around them after the illegal invasion.

This is where one of the first red flags comes up.

The game is very much from an American point of view, as shown in the description.

When it mentions Iraqi civilians, it doesn't talk about them as victims, but mentions them as being pro US, fighting alongside them.

The description and trailer mentions a few red flag worthy things too.

It talks about lawlessness and fear among the Iraqi population, but not because of the US invasion and what it led to.

It talks about how the US was liberating Fallujah from under Al Qaeda's black banner.

But that's not what happened. Or how it was even described at the time. It's clear the game is already playing into the "The US were liberators in Iraq" narrative that was so pervasive in US media at the time.

vice.com/en/article/wx8…

The only reason Al Qaeda in Iraq entered the war was because the country had been completely destroyed and destabilized by the US. This was long after the actual invasion itself.

So why is Al Qaeda painted as the only enemy in the description when it played a minor role here?

The ultimate answer is because it's a convenient enemy to have

Everyone knows Al Qaeda = terrorists = guys behind 9/11

Even though the war in Iraq was never about Al Qaeda (they weren't there at the beginning), they are mentioned here to justify illegal US actions.

What actions were those?

Well. It started with the US asking civilians to evacuate the city. That's good, right?

Not exactly. You see they also stopped any men of fighting age from leaving. Which meant entire families were still trapped in the city.

foxnews.com/story/u-s-wont…

They were also indiscriminate in their violence against the people in the city, targeting and killing children and women.

Half the Iraqis killed in the US offensive on Fallujah were women, children and elderly people.

independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…

Oh and lets not forget the most egregious aspect. That the US used white phosphorus (The chemical weapon banned under the Geneva convention) against civilians. Which the US has yet to admit and apologise for.

It led to this: independent.co.uk/news/world/mid…

I could genuinely do another 50 or so tweets on the horrors inflicted on Iraqi civilians during that time. But I'll get back to the game for now

As this game is from the US perspective, you have to wonder how much of this will be covered. The trailer + description says not much.

Instead the trailer continues to go on about how "These terrorists had to be stopped" because otherwise the country would be "turned over to Al Qaeda".

Once again conveniently leaving out the part that the US invasion is what ultimately led to the events in the first place.

The trailer continues to focus on US perspectives (and the Iraqis who had to fight with the US) to justify the actions that it took in Fallujah.

The only time casualties are mentioned is when it pertains to US troops.

It's all about the experience of "liberating" Iraq.

The comments from Peter Tamte (the guy who was funded by the CIA back when the game was first being developed) talks about this from one side only.

It's about the courage and sacrifice of the US troops. Not about how the war itself was illegal or the war crimes there.

The issue I keep wanting to stress is that this is a real event. It's not just a video game this time. It actually happened. The US should have never been there in the first place. US troops should never have done what they did. Iraqis should not have had to go through that too.

The marketing around this game already shows that the 'battle' will be whitewashed.

Sure, it might depict what life was like for Iraqi civilians, but as per the descriptions, it will portray the situation as if the US was saving them from being trapped in Fallujah.

Could the game actually be Spec Ops: The Line and talk about all the above? Maybe. But I don't see how Tamtes history or the marketing shows any of that.

Also Spec Ops was from a German studio, not a US studio which is restricted from accusing the US of war crimes.

My overall point is that this strikes me as just another war game filled with US propaganda about the actual events that took place.

Will it encourage people to sign up to the army? Maybe.

If it makes out the US to be the good guys then i'd say yes, regardless of the message.

My final point is that having a video game about real war crimes from the pov of the people committing the war crimes and talking about how they were the courageous ones making sacrifices is over the line imo.

Just to add, I'm talking about the US govt, not individual soldiers.

But let's be real for a second. US exceptionalism is still strong and most people won't care about any of the above. Heck, just read the comments under the trailer and they're all positive.

I think Tansy E Hoskins said it best back in 2009 when the game was first in development.